COMMISSION
Ottawa was governed by a Mayor-Council system until 1913 when the City became a Commission form of government. In 1970 voters established the City Manager form of government with a five member Commission that annually selects a Mayor from its ranks. The citizens of Ottawa elect commissioners at-large. Three seats on the Commission are open every odd numbered year. Two Commissioners are elected to four-year terms and one is elected to a two-year term.
The City Commission is the legislative and policy making body of the City. Regular City Commission meetings are held on a Wednesday each month. The first Wednesday meeting is scheduled at 7:00 p.m., the second at 4:00 pm, the third Wednesday is set at 10:00 a.m. and the fourth at 4:00 pm.
Emily Allen
(Mayor)
Emily Allen has served on the Ottawa City Commission since October 2015. After a brief hiatus from 2018 to 2021 due to relocating outside city limits, she was re-elected in November 2021 and continues to serve presently.
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A dedicated public servant and active community member, Emily holds a Master’s degree in Leadership from Baker University (2015) and a Bachelor’s degree from Emporia State University (2012). Over the years, she has contributed to numerous local organizations, including CASA, Communities in Schools, the Play Task Force, Ottawa Area Young Professionals, and the Ottawa Main Street Board. She currently serves on the Airport Advisory Board, the Library Board, and the Franklin County Development Council Board.
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Emily is passionate about leading by example and instilling the values of civic engagement and community pride in her children. She is committed to building a vibrant, inclusive Ottawa—one where future generations will choose to live, work, and raise their families.
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She lives in Ottawa with her partner, their children, and a lively household that includes their dog, Chino, and two cats, Deion Sanders and Bo Jackson.
Zach Clayton
(Mayor Pro-Tem)
Zach Clayton was born and raised in Ottawa. He graduated from Ottawa University with a degree in Management of Information Systems. He has worked for both Ottawa University and Franklin County’s Information Technology departments. He spent several years working in Health Care IT for Cerner in Kansas City, MO. In 2019 Zach started Picket Fence Properties, a local property renovation company and in 2021 he started Clayton & Son Construction, as a general contractor in Ottawa and is working on his real estate license.
Zach is involved in several areas of construction in and around the Ottawa area including working as a General Contractor, property renovator, home flipper and landlord.
He believes that serving on the City Commission is the best way that he can positively impact the City of Ottawa long term. Providing a quality, maintained infrastructure is key to improving the lives of citizens while encouraging continued growth is something he values. He wants to focus on sidewalk and accessibility improvements, continued housing growth, as well as finding ways to keep broadening the services available within Ottawa to current and future residents.
Eric Crowley
Eric Crowley moved to Ottawa with his family in 1979 and graduated from Ottawa High School in 1996. After graduation, he began his career as an electrician and in 2006 opened Advantage Electric. Eric married Carissa Tucker in September of 2017. They have three children, Seth, Bryce, and Raegan.
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He is involved in many areas of construction in Ottawa including, electrical contractor, builder/developer, foam insulator, house flipper, renovator and landlord.
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Eric is a member of Leadership Franklin County Board of Trustees, Ottawa Memorial Auditorium Advisory Board, and attends meetings for Play Task Force as well as other organizations in town. He previously served on the Construction Board of Appeals.
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He believes that by working together, Ottawa can be a wonderful place to live, work and raise children. As a commissioner, he wants to focus on building relationships with contractors and city officials to ensure constant, steady construction to fill housing and job needs
Sara Caylor
Sara Caylor believes that when more Kansans are connected together, amazing results will be realized. Sara has years of public engagement experience serving on the Ottawa City Commission since April 2011, four terms as Mayor of Ottawa. Sara has been an active board member for the League of Kansas Municipalities (LKM) since 2018, elected President of LKM in 2020.
Subsequently, Sara is an appointed member of the Kansas Fights Addiction Board, Kansas Municipal Energy Agency (KMEA) Board of Directors, UnitedWe Kansas Women’s Economic Development Task Force, Advent Health Ottawa Charitable Association board, and the Elizabeth Layton Center (CMHC) board. Sara earned both her Bachelor of Social Work and Master of Social Work from Washburn University. Her work has given her unique insight into the struggles of many Kansans. Sara currently serves patients and families who are in the final season of their lives receiving hospice services.
Born and raised in Ottawa, Sara is a proud parent two daughters who will stand on her shoulders and continue to dedicate themselves to a better Kansas.
Mike Skidmore
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Mike was born and raised in Ottawa. He graduated from Ottawa High School in 1974, and KState in 1978 with a B.S. degree in Agricultural Economics. Later, he married his high school sweetheart, Marilee Thornburg, and they moved to central Kansas where Mike began his career in banking. Mike and Marilee, and their 3 children, resettled in Ottawa in 1995. All three of the Skidmore children also graduated from O.H.S.
Mike was first elected to the City Commission in 2013, and has served three terms as mayor. He was a member of the Franklin County Leadership Class of 1995. He is past Chairman of both the Ottawa Area Chamber of Commerce, and Franklin County Development Council. He has served on the Ottawa University Chancellor's Council for over a decade. Mike also served on the Goppert State Service Bank board for over 20 years. He retired after 44 years in banking at the end of 2022.
Currently, in addition to being a grandpa, he enjoys substitute teaching in the Ottawa schools and serving as President of Agape Interfaith Ministries of India, which operates an orphanage, hospital, school, and supports pastors in India. Mike and Marilee are long time members of Ottawa Bible Church.